Elastic foot hosiery



Sept. 25, 1934.. E. O. NEBEL 1,974,993

ELASTIC FOOT HOSIERY Filed sepi. 27, 1955 2'sheets-sheet 1 lPatented Sept. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

n This invention relates to hosiery and particularly to hosiery of the full fashioned flat knit type.

'Ihe object of the present invention is to produce a stocking having an elastic foot capable of walewise extensibility, for the purpose of relieving tension over the toes, with a view of increasing the normal life of the stocking which is frequently shortened as a result of the toes of the wearer rubbing holes in the toe of the stocking due to a binding of the stocking over the toes as a result of the inability of the stocking to yield along the foot, such inelasticity in the foot of the stocking being due to the presence of reinforcing thread in the foot sole which thickens the fabric and tightens the stitches to such an extent that the foot sole becomes practically inextensible.

The present invention contemplates the knitting of the reinforced foot sole portion of the l stocking and the toe pocket of the stocking in such a manner as to provide suicient elasticity in the foot of the stocking to relieve excessive tension over the toes and thereby prevent the formation of holes in the toe of the stocking as above noted.

The construction of the stocking and the method of knitting the same in accordance with the principles of the present invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings; of which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of the stocking;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the lower portion of a fiat stocking blank made in accordance with the principles of the present invention before joining of the edges of the blank to complete the stocking shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary. View illustrating in stitch diagram a small area of the foot of a stocking embracing a portion of the reinforced foot sole and an adjacent non-reinforced instep por` tion of the stocking in a normal relaxed state;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the same area of the stocking under tension as in the knitting of the stocking; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relation of the needles with respect to the sinkers during the course of knitting various portions of the stocking.

The stocking shown in Fig. 1 comprises the usual leg portion 1 having a suitable Welt`2 formed at the upper end thereof and a foot portion 3 including a non-reinforced normal instep portion 4, a heel pocket 5, a toe pocket 6 and a reinforced foot sole portion 7. The stocking illustrated in Fig. 1 is of the type normally referred to as a cradle foot wherein the line of demarcation a:

(Cl. (i6- 185) between the reinforced portions 5, 6 and 7 and the non-reinforced portion 4 extends at an angle to the wales and courses from a point :c1 at the back of the stocking above the heel pocket 5 to points :v2 at each side of the foot in front of the heel 30 pocket 5 at the opposite sides of the arch of the foot, thence along lines 3:3 at each side of the foot respectively which are substantially parallel to the wales, said line then inclining toward the top of the foot at an angle to the wales and courses and terminating at each side of the foot at points :r4 which are joined by the course line :c5 defining the rear edge of the upper portion of the toe pocket 6.

In both at knit full fashioned and circular "i0 knit seamless hosiery when knitting the reinforced heel, toe, and foot sole portions 5, 6 and 'I respectively the stitches of which these portions are composed are usually made slightly longer than the normal regular stitches of the nonreinforced instep portion 4 and leg portion 1 of the stocking, in order to provide suflicient room to accommodate the reinforcing thread in addition to the body thread of which the stocking is composed. Such construction makes for a relative rigidity in the reinforced areas of the stocking.

In order to illustrate the principles of the present invention, a stocking of the fiat knit full fashioned type has been chosen for the purpose in the present case.- In the knitting of a stocking of this type, in accordance with the present invention, the normal procedure is followed throughout the formation of the leg 1 and heel tabs 5a, 5a on either side of the leg blank, which constitute the heel pocket 5 of the finished stock- 90 n ing shown in Fig. 1, the forward line of the heel tabs 5a in the present instance being illustrated at y. The stocking at this stage of knitting is usually transferred from the legging machine to the footer, wherein the instep portion 4 0f the 95 stocking between the turning points y1, y1 of the heel tabs 5a, 5a are transferred to a central group of needles and the forward edges y of the heel tabs are placed on needles at the opposite sides of the group holding the instep stitches, Whereupon the knitting of the foot from the end of one heel tab across the instep to the end of the heel tab at the opposite side of the stocking blank progresses course by course.

As noted above when feeding the body and reinforcing threads to the needles on which the reinforced foot and sole portion of the stocking are being produced the needles indicated at 10 in Fig. 5, are pressed back from the normal position indicated at z with respect to the throat 11a 110 of the sinkers 11 which the needles assume for the production of the non-reinforced portions, such for example as the instep portion 4, to a position illustrated at al to provide extra space for the reinforcing thread t in addition to the main thread T.

In forming the courses of stitches producing the foot portion of the stocking forward of the heel pocket 5, under the principles of the present invention, the needles are, at predetermined times, pressed back further to the position illustrated at z2 in Fig. 5, and at other times the needles are permitted to remain in the normal position z during the formation of the reinforced portions 6 and 7 of the stocking, whereby at certain times during the formation of the reinforced portions 6 and 7 the needles draw substantially the same amount of thread as required for the formation of stitches of normal length, such as those of which the non-reinforced portions 1 and 4 of the stocking are composed, while at other times those needles on which the reinforced portions of the stocking are being formed move to the extreme rearward position indicated at x2 and thereby draw an extra amount of thread, relatively greater than the amount normally drawn when forming the reinforced portions of the stocking wherein the needles assume the position illustrated at 21 in Fig. 5. The result is as follows: Certain courses within the reinforced areas of the stocking are composed of normal regular sized stitches while other courses within the said reinforced portions of the stocking are formed of elongated stitches which resemble what are normally known in the art as loose courses.

'I'he mechanism for controlling the needles in the manner above noted forms the subject matter of a companion application, Serial No. 696,724, filed November 3, 1933, and therefore will not be described in detail inthe present application.

The effect of providing interspersed loose and restricted stitches or courses of stitches within the reinforced portions of the stocking provides an unprecedented amount of elasticity within the reinforced foot of the stocking.

In the preferred form of the invention the stitch courses within the reinforced portions 6 and 7 of the stocking, are arranged in alternate relation to each other, throughout the foot sole portions 7, 7 at the opposite sides of the stocking blank and throughout the whole of the toe portion 6 of such blank.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as a matter of convenience in knitting, the elongated stitches of one course lying within the reinforced area 7 at one side of the foot blank are in staggered relation to the elongated stitches of the reinforced area 7 at the opposite side of the blank. This will be more readily understood upon reference to Fig. 2, wherein, for purely illustrative purposes, two courses of stitches 8 and 9 respectively are shown out of all proportion to the actual size of the stitches at the scale to which Fig.'2 is drawn. As a matter of explanation, in laying the body and reinforcing threads T and t to the needles for the formation of course let it be assumed that the thread carrier is moving from left to right, as viewed in said gure, with the sinkers 11 moving out in the usual manner to sink the threads around the needles 10. The needles at the time the thread carriers are passing from the left selvage edge of the blank to the line of demarcation :1:3 between the reinforced area 7 and the non-reinforced area 4 the needles 10 assume the rearmost position 22. When the thread carriers arrived at a point in line with the line 3:3 the needles move forward to the position z and maintain this position until the body thread carrier passes completely across the instep area 4 and the foot sole area 7 at the right side of the blank.

The needles are then actuated to form loops of the thread or threads sunk around them, whereby the needles forming the left side reinforced area 7 produce relatively loose elongated stitches 8a while those producing the central instep portion 4 form regular or relatively tight loops 8b, and the needles producing the right side reinforced area form tight or normally sized stitches 8c similar in size to the stitches 8b but with the addition of the reinforcing thread t therein which makes these stitches relatively tighter than the stitches 8b.

In forming the course 9 the thread carriers will move from right to left and during the lateral movement of the thread carriers across the right side reinforced area 7 and the forward movement of the sinkers ll the needles l0 again assume the rearmost position z2 in which they are maintained until the thread carriers arrive at theright side line x3, whereupon the needles recede to position Z which they assume throughout the remainder of the right to left travel of the thread carriers.

When the needles are operated to form the stitches of course 9, the stitches 9a within the right side reinforced area 7 are relatively loose or elongated while those of the central instep and left side reinforced area are relatively tight or smaller as indicated at 9b and 9c respectively.

While the relative tight and loose stitches or courses may be interspersed, spaced or arranged in any desired order it is preferable to alternate them throughout the length of the foot sole portions 7, 7, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In forming the toe pocket portion 6, it is preferable toform one loose course then a tight course and so on alternately from the rear edge x5 to the tip of the toe portion 6.

In narrowing the foot sole as at 14, 14, and the toe as at 15, 15 and 16, 16,*by laterally transferring stitches in the usual manner, such narrowing is effected preferably in the loose courses or the loose parts of those courses in which both tight and loose stitches are formed, such as those similar to courses 8 and 9.

In forming the cradle foot shown in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the line of demarcation between the reinforced and nonreinforced areas meet, as indicated at m6, the needles in forming the successive courses including the angular portion of the reinforce are held in the rearmost position z2 progressively longer in accordance with the angle of the line :r6 as the successive courses are produced, thus regardless of the contour of the foot sole reinforce the relatively loose or elongated stitches 8a and 9a extend right up to the line of demarcation between the reinforced and non-reinforced areas of the stocking foot.

Fig. 3 shows how the reinforced areas 7, 7 contract normally with the non-reinforced area 4 so that no difference in length between the reinforced areas 7, 7 and non-reinforced area 4 is produced by the presence of the elongated or loose stitches 8a and 9a of the reinforced areas, j

9a in the reinforced areas 7, 7 also provide for increased lateral resiliency whereby a stocking of given size will comfortably fit either a long narrow foot or a short thick foot and provide the necessary elasticity both coursewise and walewise to prevent the stocking from being damaged by either lateral or longitudinal strain.

This elasticity in the stockings made according to the principles of the present invention also makes for economy in manufacture and nishing whereby the manufacturer need provide only half the usual number of nishing boards for the normal range of sizes, i. e. under the principles of the present invention one board may be used for stockings which will take care of the normal sizes 8 and 81/2, another to take care of the normal sizes 9 and 91/2 and another to take care of the normal sizes l0 and 101/2, each of which prior to the present invention, required a finishing board of its own. With the elasticity provided in the stocking of the present case the 8 size board will nish a stocking that will stretch conveniently to an extent well beyond the 81/2 size and so on up the scale.

I claim:

l. A stocking comprising a foot blank composed of successive courses of stitches respectively extending across a central instep portion and a pair of foot sole portions at opposite sides respectively of the instep portion, wherein that part of one course lying within one of said footsole portions is composed of relatively loose stitches and the remaining parts of the same 'course lying within the second of said foot sole portions and the intermediate instep portion are composed of relatively tight stitches.

2. A stocking comprising a foot blank composed of successive courses of stitches respectively extending across a central instep portion and a pair of foot sole portionsat opposite sides respectively of the instep portion, wherein that part of one course lying within one of said foot sole portions is composed of relatively loose stitches and the remaining parts of the same course lying within the second of said foot sole portions and the intermediate instep portion are composed of relatively tight stitches, and wherein that portion of the next succeeding course lying within the second foot sole portion is composed of relatively loose stitches and the remaining parts of the same course lying in the instep portion and first foot sole portion are composed of relatively tight stitches.

3. A stocking comprising a. foot blank composed of successive courses of stitches respectively extending across a central instep portion and a pair of foot sole portions at opposite sides respectively of the instep portion, wherein that part of one course lying within one of said foot sole portions is composed of relatively loose stitches and the remaining parts of the same course lying within the second of said foot sole portions and the intermediate instep portion are composed of relatively tight stitches, and wherein that portion of the next succeeding course lying within the second foot sole portion is composed of relatively loose stitches and the remaining parts of the same course lying in the instep portion and first foot sole portion are composed of relatively tight stitches, and wherein said alternation is continued-throughout the foot sole and adjacently disposed instep portions of the foot bank.

4. A stocking comprising a foot blank including a central instep portion, a toe portion at one end of the instep portion and a foot sole portion at each side of said instep portion, said blank being composed of successive stitch courses extending continuously across the blank, wherein that part of one course lying withinpne of said foot sole portions is composed of relatively loose stitches and the remaining parts of the same course lying within the second of said foot sole portions and the intermediate instep portion are composed of relatively tight stitches, and wherein that portion of the next succeeding course lying within the second foot sole portion is composed of relatively loose stitches and the remaining parts of the same course lying in the instep portion and first foot sole portion are composed of relatively tight stitches, and wherein said alternation is continued throughout the foot sole and adjacently disposed instep portions of the foot blank, and wherein the courses lying within the toe portion are alternately composed of said relatively loose and tight stitches respectively from side to side of the blank.

5. A stocking comprising a fashioned foot blank including a central instep portion, a toe portion at one end of the instep portion and a foot sole portion at each side of said instep portion, said blank being composed of successive stitch courses extending continuously across the blank, wherein that part of one course lying within one of said foot sole portions is composed of relatively loose stitches and the remaining parts of the same course lying within the second of said foot sole portions and the intermediate instep portion are composed of relatively tight stitches, and wherein that portion of the next succeeding course lying within the second foot sole portion is com posed of relatively loose stitches and the remaining parts of the same course lying in the instep portion and first foot sole portion are composed of relatively tight stitches, and wherein said alternation is continued throughout the foot sole and adjacently disposed instep portions of the foot blank, and wherein the courses lying within the toe portion are alternately composed of said relatively loose and tight stitches respectively from side to side of the blank, and wherein the fashioning of the blank is effected in those courses and parts thereof which are composed of said relatively loose stitches.

6. The process for knitting a stocking comprising a foot blank including a central instep portion and a foot sole portion at each side thereof, which consists in drawing a greater amount of thread by the needles for knitting one of the foot sole portions than is drawn by the needles for knitting the instep and second foot sole portions in producing a single course of stitches extending across the blank.

'1. The process for knitting a stocking comprising a foot blank including a central instep portion and a foot sole portion at each side thereof, which consists in drawing a greater amount of thread by the needles for knitting one of the foot sole portions than is drawn by the needles for knitting the instep and second foot sole portions in producing a single course of stitches extending across the blank, and in the formation of a succeeding course of stitches causing the needles knitting the second foot sole portion t0 draw a greater amount of thread than the needles knitting the rst said foot sole and intermediate instep portions of the stocking.

8. 'Ihe process for knitting a stocking comprising a foot blank including a central instep portion and a foot sole portion at eachside thereof, which consists in drawing a greater amount of thread by the needles for knitting one of the foot sole portions than is drawn by the `needles for knitting the instep and second foot sole portions in producing a single course of stitches extending across the blank, and in the' formation of a succeeding course of stitches causing the needles knitting the second foot sole portion to draw a greater amount of thread than the needles knitting the rst said foot sole and intermediate instep portions of the stocking, and aiecting such alternation in immediately succeeding courses throughout the length of the foot sole.

9. The process for knitting a stocking comprising a foot blank including a toe portion, a central instep portion and a. foot sole portion at each side thereof, which consists in drawing a greater amount of thread by the needles for knitting one of the foot sole portions than is drawn by the needles for knitting the instep and second foot sole portions in producing a single course of stitches extending across the blank, and in the 'formation of a succeeding course of stitches causing the needles knitting the second foot sole portion to draw a greater amount of thread than the needles knitting the first said foot sole and intermediate instep portions of the stocking, and affecting such alternation in immediately succeeding courses throughout the length of the foot sole, and effecting production of complete alternating tight and loose courses from the end of the foot sole through the toe portion of the blank.

10. The process for knitting a stocking comprising a foot blank including a toe portion, a central instep portion and a foot sole portion at each side thereof, which consists in drawing a greater amount of thread by the needles for knitting one of the foot sole portions than is drawn by the needles for knitting the instep and second foot sole portions in producing a single course of stitches extending across the blank, and in the formation of a succeeding course of stitches causing the needles knitting the second foot sole portion to draw a greater amount of thread than the needles knitting the first said foot sole and intermediate instep portions of the stocking, and affecting such alternation in immediately succeeding courses throughout the length of the foot sole, and eiecting production of complete alternating tight and loose courses from the end of the foot sole through the toe portion of the blank, and fashioning the blank by lateral transfer of stitches in courses and parts of courses composed of loose stitches.

ERNST OSCAR NEBEL. 

